Water Shortage in Katra

Number of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine is increasing with each passing year and so is the problem of water scarcity in Katra town. In direct proportion to the rising number of pilgrims, the problem too is escalating to the extent that as of today, there is around 50 percent shortfall in the water supply against the daily requirement of Katra town.

Sources of the Public Health Engineering Department informed that Katra town requires around 14 lakh gallons of water per day to meet the demand but the supply system only provides 8 lakh gallons of water per day. There remains shortfall of around 6 lakh gallons per day.

Besides, there are no adequate hand pumps installed by the administration to cope up the daily requirements of Katra inhabitants and thousands of pilgrims visit Katra daily. The annual pilgrimage to Katra town is increasing with each passing year and there is about 20-25 percent increase in the annual pilgrimage every year but the decades old water supply system is unable to meet the requirements.

Ram Kumar, a resident of Katra town said that in the name of beautification of Katra town, a fountain worth approximately Rs 1 crore has been installed near bus stand Katra. “Authorities have water for the fountain but not for the residents and pilgrims,” he said, adding that no new water resource tube wells or hand pumps were installed to meet the requirements.

Another resident Rajeshwar Singh alleged nexus between politicians, Municipal Council Katra and soft drinks suppliers which was responsible for the water shortage. He further added that the scarcity problem was lingering since last many years but no one bothered over it.

“There is consumption of around 10,000 packed mineral bottles per day in Katra town which is only due to the absence of public connections of water supply,” said Singh, adding that not a single hand-pump has been installed since last many years in the town due to which pilgrims were facing lot of difficulties and took packed mineral water to quench the thirst which gave huge profit to grocery shop owners.

“The consumption of packed mineral water is around 3 lakh bottles per month which is worth around Rs. 2 crores and for maintaining this profit level, no new water source is being installed in the town,” alleged Nikhil a local.

Residents further added that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has daily earnings in crores but for sake of profit of shopkeepers, drinking water facility was not being provided by the Board in Katra town.

When repeatedly contacted on his office phone for two consecutive days, the SMVDSB Additional CEO, MK Bhandari was not available for comment. His personal assistant informed that he was busy in a meeting and when tried to contact him on his cell phone he didn’t pick up the phone after repeated attempts.

Public Health Engineering department Executive Engineer Reasi, Mohammad Rafiq when contacted maintained that there was around 20-25 percent increase in the number of pilgrims ever year and requirement of water was also increasing. Three new tube-wells with intake capacity of 1.5 lakh gallons per day have been installed and will started supply within few days. “For completely redressal of scarcity problem, a project having intake capacity of 16 lakh gallons per day has been submitted to the Government of India under UIDSSMT plan,” Mohammd Rafiq said, adding that after approval of funds the plan would be materialised and the problem will be addressed.